Canberra trainer Nick Olive admits he had more than a few nerves ahead he Tejori’s Highway Handicap bid at Randwick but he need not have worried.
The filly lived up to her $3.70 favouritism in Saturday’s 1200m-sprint when she beat Ready To Humble ($6.50) by a decisive three-quarters of a length.
“We’ve got an opinion of her. I was bloody nervous coming here today, you’re stepping up in class and you want to see them do it,” Olive said.
“Kerrin (McEvoy) gave her a beautiful ride, she had all the favours. But look, she was there to be beat, a few of them loomed and she held them all off which was fantastic.
“I know it’s only a Highway, but you’re stepping up in grade, you don’t want them to disappoint you. If the bubble bursts now you’re back to square one.
“She is a lovely filly. I think she has got a nice future.”
Olive said Tejori, the winner of three of her four starts, was likely to tackle another Highway race for country-trained horses before he stepped her up in grade again.
“We will see how she pulls up and give her a bit of time between runs,” he said.
“She’s had a year off and won her two starts back now so it’s a good effort.”
McEvoy said Tejori dug deep when he asked.
“She’s a nice type. I was taken by her wins at Canberra,” he said.
“She has a good winning attitude and was able to find a bit more over the final furlong.”
